PowerShot D10

Canon has just announced eight new compact cameras for its Spring line-up, including four new Ixus models, two new A-series cameras, a new SX-series camera, and Canon's first underwater compact, the D10.

PowerShot D10

For a long time there Olympus and Pentax have had the small but interesting world of waterproof cameras pretty much to themselves, with the mju SW and Optio W ranges respectively. However Canon has decided to enter the market, and in typical style. The new PowerShot D10 is waterproof to a depth of 10m, and freeze-proof to -10 degrees centigrade, matching Olympus' top-of-the-range mju Tough-8000 and comfortably beating Pentax's Optio W60.

The new camera is also shockproof enough to survive falls from a height of 1.22m, which is reassuringly specific. Just make sure you don't drop it from 1.23m, or you'll surely break it.

As well as the tough-guy credentials the D10 features a 12.1-megapixel CCD sensor, 3x zoom lens with optical image stabilisation, Digic 4 image processing and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor that has been "specially modified" for better outdoor performance, and has a 2mm thick protective shield.

Other features include 30fps VGA movie recording, face detection with blink detection and auto red-eye correction, and an optional accessories including shoulder and neck strap set and karabiner strap plus front cover set.